Elenore Sturko

Early career and public service

Elenore Sturko's professional life before politics was defined by public service across multiple fields. After graduating from Kamloops Senior Secondary, she began her career in broadcasting by joining CFJC-TV in Kamloops. In 2007, she became a reservist with the Canadian Forces Air Command, serving with the 440 Transport Squadron based in Yellowknife. Her commitment to public safety led her to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2009, where she advanced to the rank of staff sergeant. Her early postings with the RCMP included frontline policing duties in Langley, British Columbia, before a transfer back to Yellowknife in 2012 where she worked as a community policing and media relations officer. During her time in the North, Sturko traveled extensively, working directly with Indigenous communities and participating in operations like the Arctic Sovereignty Patrol. In 2016, a move to Ottawa saw her join the RCMP Musical Ride, and she participated in the cross-country tour celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017. Stationed in Surrey from 2018 onward, she served as a public spokesperson for the Surrey RCMP detachment. Throughout her RCMP career, she also served as an advisor on internal issues related to gender, sexual orientation, and harassment.

Entry into provincial politics

Sturko's entry into electoral politics was prompted by a vacancy in the riding where she lived and worked. Following the resignation of Surrey South MLA Stephanie Cadieux in 2022, BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon approached Sturko to run as the party's candidate. She won the subsequent by-election in September 2022, entering the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Her background in public safety and community engagement led to rapid appointments within the official opposition caucus. In October 2022, she was named the official opposition critic for education. By December of that year, her critic portfolio was expanded to include Mental Health, Addiction, Recovery and Education. During this period, the BC Liberal Party underwent a rebranding, changing its name to BC United, and Sturko served as a member under that banner. Her work in the Surrey South constituency involved significant casework, with her office later reporting it had assisted constituents with over 1,500 cases. As an opposition critic, she frequently questioned the NDP government on its handling of the education portfolio and the overlapping mental health and addiction crises.

Party transitions and the 2024 election

Sturko's first major political shift occurred on June 3, 2024, when she announced her departure from BC United to join the BC Conservative Party, becoming its fourth MLA. This move came just months before the scheduled provincial election in October 2024. For that election, she contested the electoral district of Surrey-Cloverdale, where she defeated New Democratic Party incumbent Mike Starchuk. Following the election, Conservative leader John Rustad appointed her to the party's shadow cabinet in November 2024, serving as critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety. A rift emerged publicly when a letter signed by 13 Conservative MLAs was leaked, attacking Sturko for comments she made on November 23, 2024. The controversy centred on the Vancouver Police Board's acceptance of the resignation of vice-chair Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba after Sakoma-Fadugba made racist, anti-immigration, and transphobic comments online. The group of MLAs defended Sakoma-Fadugba as a victim of cancel culture and demanded Sturko apologize. Sturko refused to retract her statement. The BC Conservatives became the official opposition after the 2024 election, which intensified internal scrutiny of caucus unity.

Removal from caucus and independent work

The internal tensions culminated on September 22, 2025, when Conservative leader John Rustad removed Sturko from the party caucus. She subsequently sat in the legislature as an independent MLA. Sturko stated that her ejection was due to being prevented from voicing her more socially liberal beliefs while within the Conservative caucus. As an independent, she continued her legislative work and gained a cross-party appointment. On February 25, 2026, she was elected as Chair of the Special Committee on Police Complaints, a position she secured with the support of NDP MLAs while Conservative members on the committee opposed her. This role allowed her to apply her expertise in policing and public safety to legislative oversight. Her period as an independent lasted nearly a full year, during which she served the constituents of Surrey-Cloverdale without a party affiliation. During this time, she introduced private member's bills focused on community safety and police accountability.

Leadership of CentreBC and the 2026 election

Sturko's path took another dramatic turn in September 2026 with the formation of the new centrist party, CentreBC. On September 18, she joined seven other former Conservative MLAs in becoming a member of the fledgling party. In a rapid series of events, the party's initial leader, Peter Milobar, and several other MLAs returned to the BC Conservative Party just days later, on September 22. Sturko chose to remain with CentreBC and, following these departures, immediately became the party's new leader on September 22, 2026. She quickly turned her focus to the snap provincial election called for October 24, 2026. Sturko decided to run in the riding of Surrey South, where her political career began, rather than in Surrey-Cloverdale. On the campaign trail, she positioned CentreBC as a pragmatic alternative for voters dissatisfied with both the governing NDP and the Conservatives. She criticized NDP leader David Eby's economic management and the province's debt, while also arguing the BC Conservatives under John Rustad represented instability and polarization. Her campaign platform, released in the weeks leading to the vote, centred on several key pledges.

• Increasing the provincial RCMP complement by 500 officers over five years to bolster specialized and municipal units.
• Making permanent funding for the extortion task force and increasing the number of prosecutors in the BC Prosecution Service.
• Implementing a mental health and addictions plan featuring intensive housing and long-term care for severely ill individuals.
• Focusing on economic diversification and expanding provincial revenues to fund public services like health care.

CentreBC fielded candidates in multiple ridings across the province for the 2026 election.

Political positions and platform

As leader of CentreBC, Sturko has articulated a platform that seeks to occupy the political centre, emphasizing pragmatic solutions over ideology. On public safety, her policy is deeply informed by her RCMP background, advocating for increased police resources and support for the justice system rather than sweeping systemic reforms. Her affordability and economic plans focus on stimulating resource development, manufacturing, and small business to expand the provincial tax base, which she argues is necessary to sustain health care and other services. On social issues, her public statements and history indicate a socially liberal perspective, which she says was stifled during her time with the BC Conservatives. Her criticism of transphobic comments and her self-description as socially liberal suggest a supportive stance on LGBTQ+ inclusion. She has been critical of the political polarization exemplified by both major parties, positioning CentreBC as a force for stability and cooperative federal-provincial relations. Sturko has stated her support for balanced budgets over the economic cycle and for increasing trade with Asian markets to diversify the provincial economy.

Electoral history and riding service

Sturko's electoral record, though brief, demonstrates her ability to win in competitive ridings under different party banners. Her first victory was in the 2022 Surrey South by-election, where she succeeded as the BC Liberal candidate. In the 2024 general election, she won the seat of Surrey-Cloverdale as a BC Conservative candidate. For the 2026 election, she returned to contest Surrey South as the leader of CentreBC. Throughout her tenure as an MLA, constituency service has been a stated priority. By September 2026, she reported that her offices, serving both Surrey South and Surrey-Cloverdale constituents over four years, had handled more than 1,500 individual cases. This work typically involves assisting residents with provincial government services, advocating on their behalf, and addressing bureaucratic hurdles. Her constituency office in Surrey-Cloverdale became a hub for community meetings on local issues like crime prevention and school overcrowding.

Personal life and family

Elenore Sturko maintains a family life rooted in the community she represents. She lives in Surrey with her wife, Melissa, and their three children. Her personal experiences, including being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a parent, inform her perspective on policy and representation. Her career moves, such as transferring within the RCMP to Ottawa for the Musical Ride and later to Surrey, were made alongside her family. This grounding in Surrey provides a direct connection to the issues facing her constituents, from public safety to affordability and education. Sturko has spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing a demanding political career with family responsibilities, noting it requires strong support systems. She is a member of the Cloverdale Community Association and regularly attends local events with her family.

Questions about Elenore Sturko

What did Elenore Sturko do before entering politics?

Prior to her political career, Elenore Sturko worked in broadcasting with CFJC-TV in Kamloops. She served as a reservist with the Canadian Forces Air Command starting in 2007, assigned to the 440 Transport Squadron in Yellowknife. Her primary career was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which she joined in 2009, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. Her RCMP postings included frontline policing in Langley, community relations and media work in Yellowknife, service with the Musical Ride in Ottawa from 2016 to 2018, and finally as a spokesperson for the Surrey RCMP detachment from 2018 onward.

Why was Elenore Sturko removed from the BC Conservative caucus?

Sturko was removed from the BC Conservative caucus by leader John Rustad on September 22, 2025. The removal followed internal conflict over Sturko's public comments in November 2024 concerning the Vancouver Police Board's handling of vice-chair Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba, who made offensive remarks. Sturko stated that she was prevented from voicing her more socially liberal beliefs within the caucus. This ideological difference, coupled with the earlier leaked letter from 13 Conservative MLAs criticizing her, led to her ejection. The Conservative caucus had become the official opposition after the 2024 election, increasing pressure for internal discipline.

What are CentreBC's key platform promises under Sturko?

Under Sturko's leadership, CentreBC's 2026 election platform includes several specific policy pledges. The party promises to add 500 new RCMP officers over five years to bolster provincial police services. It commits to permanent funding for the extortion task force and hiring more prosecutors for the BC Prosecution Service. On mental health and addictions, the platform proposes intensive housing and long-term care models for severely ill individuals. Economically, the focus is on diversifying the economy, supporting resource development and small business, and expanding provincial revenues to fund public services.

How many political parties has Elenore Sturko belonged to?

Since her election in 2022, Elenore Sturko has been a member of four distinct political affiliations in the British Columbia legislature. She was first elected as a member of the BC Liberal Party, which later renamed itself BC United. She crossed the floor to join the BC Conservative Party in June 2024. After being removed from that caucus in September 2025, she sat as an independent MLA for nearly a year. Finally, in September 2026, she joined and then became the leader of the newly formed CentreBC party on September 22, 2026.

What party does Elenore Sturko lead?

Elenore Sturko leads CentreBC, having become its leader on September 22, 2026. She joined CentreBC on September 18, 2026, after sitting as an independent MLA. Her rise to leadership followed a period of instability for the newly founded party, as several other former Conservative MLAs who joined CentreBC with her, including initial leader Peter Milobar, promptly returned to the BC Conservative Party. Sturko remained with CentreBC and now leads it into the October 2026 provincial election.

What riding is Elenore Sturko running in for the 2026 BC election?

Elenore Sturko is running in the electoral district of Surrey South for the October 24, 2026, British Columbia general election. This marks a return to the riding where she was first elected as an MLA in a September 2022 by-election. She decided to campaign in Surrey South, her home riding, rather than in Surrey-Cloverdale, which she represented from 2024 to 2026. Sturko stated that Surrey South is where she began her political career and is the community where she and her family reside.

Sources and further reading

• Elenore Sturko (Wikipedia)
• Elenore Sturko, CentreBC strive to give voters a centrist ... (cbc.ca)
• Centre BC leader Elenore Sturko running in Surrey South ... (surreynowleader.com)
• BC Election 2026: A Conversation with Elenore Sturko (podcasts.apple.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.